Compare StocksAXP vs KR

American Express Company (AXP) vs The Kroger Co. (KR)

AXP
American Express Company
$294.93
VS
KR
The Kroger Co.
$73.76

Rewards

AXP
  • Gross margin of 63.5% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $6.18 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
KR
  • The Kroger Co. scores 71/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Share count has been reduced by 16% over the past 5 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $1.87 of market value — management is creating shareholder value.

Risks

AXP
  • Altman Z-Score of 0.93 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
  • 7 insider sales totaling $36.4M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
  • Free cash flow has declined at a 5.9% CAGR over the past 4 years — a concerning trend.
KR
  • Gross margin of 23.3% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
  • FCF yield of 7.6% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
  • Trailing P/E of 47.9x is 92% above the historical average of 24.9x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.

Key Valuation Metrics

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AXP
KR
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$3.43B
N/A
FCF Yield
7.58%
19.19
Trailing P/E
47.90
14.64
Forward P/E
13.12
Quality & Moat
9.49%
ROIC
13.39%
31.97%
ROE
17.12%
63.47%
Gross Margin
23.30%
1.16
PEG Ratio
0.96
Balance Sheet Safety
1.91
Debt / Equity
4.16
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
2.68
1.29%
Dividend Yield
1.90%
AXP: 4Ties: 1KR: 4
AXPKR

Historical Fundamentals

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AXP

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

KR

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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AXP
$6.18
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$23.29B
Δ Market Cap
+$144.01B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
KR
$1.87
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Value Creator
Σ Retained
$4.71B
Δ Market Cap
+$8.80B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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AXP
38.6% Margin of Safety
Price is 38.6% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $294.93
Fair Value: $480.21
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
KR
9.3% Margin of Safety
Price is 9.3% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $73.76
Fair Value: $81.32
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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AXP

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

KR

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $74?

+7.3%
Market-Implied FCF Growth Rate

Market pricing in significantly higher growth than history — aggressive.

Economic Moat Score

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AXP
40/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving margin stability would strengthen the moat.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
KR
71/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. ROIC Consistency is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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AXP
-2.51
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
KR
-2.90
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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AXP
Insiders 22.2%Institutions 64.8%Retail & Other 12.9%
No. of Institutional Holders3,749
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
KR
Insiders 9.1%Institutions 81.6%Retail & Other 9.3%
No. of Institutional Holders1,815
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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AXP
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $4,054
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$4,054
@ $176.26 · 2025-04-09
ANGELAKIS MICHAEL J
Director
$998,593
@ $269.89 · 2025-03-07
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
KR
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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AXP
7
Sells (3M)
20
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $152.65M
LIEBERMAN QUINN JESSICA
Officer
$909,661
@ $300.02 · 2026-03-06
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$4.77M
@ $340.67 · 2026-02-19
GROSFIELD HOWARD M
Officer
$2.82M
@ $346.73 · 2026-02-12
RADHAKRISHNAN RAVIKUMAR S
Chief Technology Officer
$5.35M
@ $356.58 · 2026-02-09
SEEGER LAUREEN E
Officer
$4.60M
@ $360.99 · 2026-02-09
MARRS ANNA
Officer
$9.60M
@ $350.01 · 2026-02-05
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$8.35M
@ $356.91 · 2026-02-05
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$538,902
@ $384.93 · 2025-12-12
RUTLEDGE ELIZABETH
Officer
$18.01M
@ $360.21 · 2025-10-31
TABISH DOUGLAS J
Officer
$894,359
@ $355.61 · 2025-10-23
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$1.75M
@ $350.73 · 2025-10-22
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$37.03M
@ $329.86 · 2025-09-04
HERENA MONIQUE
Officer
$2.83M
@ $325.88 · 2025-09-03
BUCKMINSTER DOUGLAS E
Officer
$7.67M
@ $326.37 · 2025-09-02
SEEGER LAUREEN E
Officer
$23.37M
@ $296.90 · 2025-08-06
MCNEAL GLENDA G
Officer
$15.47M
@ $309.50 · 2025-07-29
MARRS ANNA
Officer
$1.71M
@ $310.77 · 2025-07-29
MARQUEZ RAFAEL
Officer
$3.56M
@ $296.93 · 2025-05-20
GROSFIELD HOWARD M
Officer
$2.60M
@ $275.50 · 2025-05-06
MCNEAL GLENDA G
Officer
$799,009
@ $264.66 · 2025-04-29
MARRS ANNA
President
$6.32M
@ $287.88 · 2025-03-04
LIEBERMAN QUINN JESSICA
Officer
$897,590
@ $296.43 · 2025-02-26
MCNEAL GLENDA G
Officer
$2.29M
@ $309.96 · 2025-02-11
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$16.24M
@ $319.45 · 2025-02-06
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$3.53M
@ $317.01 · 2025-02-05
RADHAKRISHNAN RAVIKUMAR S
Chief Technology Officer
$3.03M
@ $319.17 · 2025-02-05
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$7.25M
@ $318.69 · 2025-02-05
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$4.77M
@ $313.94 · 2025-01-28
LE CAILLEC CHRISTOPHE
Chief Financial Officer
$1.82M
@ $303.48 · 2024-11-27
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$48.90M
@ $286.57 · 2024-11-07
HERENA MONIQUE
Officer
$374,010
@ $287.70 · 2024-11-07
BUCKMINSTER DOUGLAS E
Officer
$3.55M
@ $270.98 · 2024-10-29
WILLIAMS ANRE D.
Officer
$21.05M
@ $270.26 · 2024-10-22
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$666,213
@ $240.68 · 2024-05-22
SKYLER JENNIFER
Officer
$3.58M
@ $241.73 · 2024-05-10
LIEBERMAN QUINN JESSICA
Officer
$729,770
@ $232.41 · 2024-05-06
MARRS ANNA
Officer
$829,501
@ $230.93 · 2024-05-03
BUCKMINSTER DOUGLAS E
Officer
$27.27M
@ $232.44 · 2024-05-02
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$9.28M
@ $238.63 · 2024-04-23
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
KR
0
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $27.44M
MOORE CLYDE R
Director
$272,834
@ $71.61 · 2025-07-16
MOORE CLYDE R
Director
$1.89M
@ $70.50 · 2025-07-11
ADCOCK MARY ELLEN
Officer
$2.44M
@ $71.16 · 2025-06-27
ARREAGA GABRIEL
Officer
$2.75M
@ $72.44 · 2025-06-25
MASSA TIMOTHY A
Officer
$622,710
@ $74.00 · 2025-06-23
COSSET YAEL
Officer
$5.23M
@ $73.49 · 2025-06-23
FIKE CARIN L
Officer and Treasurer
$1.22M
@ $73.79 · 2025-06-23
WHEATLEY CHRISTINE STRICK
Officer
$2.16M
@ $72.07 · 2025-04-23
MASSA TIMOTHY A
Officer
$1.65M
@ $73.00 · 2025-04-22
COSSET YAEL
Officer
$2.19M
@ $73.00 · 2025-04-22
ARREAGA GABRIEL
Officer
$995,866
@ $71.82 · 2025-04-21
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$72,030
@ $72.03 · 2025-04-21
FOLEY TODD A
Officer
$989,442
@ $70.67 · 2025-04-17
JABBAR VALERIE L
Officer
$2.16M
@ $69.08 · 2025-04-16
WHEATLEY CHRISTINE STRICK
Officer
$2.08M
@ $69.44 · 2025-04-04
KIMBALL KENNETH C.
Officer
$719,081
@ $65.37 · 2025-03-21
ARREAGA GABRIEL
Officer
$1.05M
@ $65.63 · 2025-03-19
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$94,933
@ $65.88 · 2025-03-17
COSSET YAEL
Chief Technology Officer
$1.17M
@ $66.19 · 2025-03-17
COSSET YAEL
Chief Technology Officer
$691,190
@ $65.76 · 2025-03-14
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$86,723
@ $66.71 · 2025-03-13
MASSA TIMOTHY A
Officer
$1.97M
@ $66.56 · 2025-03-13
ADCOCK MARY ELLEN
Officer
$6.90M
@ $66.39 · 2025-03-13
COSSET YAEL
Chief Investment Officer
$7.84M
@ $68.08 · 2025-03-10
FOLEY TODD A
Chief Financial Officer
$1.87M
@ $66.62 · 2025-03-07
FOLEY TODD A
Chief Financial Officer
$1.04M
@ $61.44 · 2024-12-19
AITKEN STUART W
Officer
$8.38M
@ $63.18 · 2024-12-12
COSSET YAEL
Chief Technology Officer
$1.17M
@ $58.39 · 2024-12-10
COSSET YAEL
Chief Technology Officer
$1.76M
@ $58.54 · 2024-12-09
MASSA TIMOTHY A
Officer
$1.56M
@ $60.12 · 2024-12-06
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$386,248
@ $55.80 · 2024-10-07
JABBAR VALERIE L
Officer
$167,730
@ $55.91 · 2024-09-23
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$222,800
@ $55.70 · 2024-09-17
FIKE CARIN L
Officer and Treasurer
$167,269
@ $55.57 · 2024-09-17
NICHOLS BRIAN W
Officer
$109,060
@ $54.53 · 2024-07-19
FOLEY TODD A
Chief Financial Officer
$368,467
@ $55.69 · 2024-04-26
KIMBALL KENNETH C.
Officer
$1.69M
@ $55.98 · 2024-04-25
JABBAR VALERIE L
Officer
$832,800
@ $55.52 · 2024-04-23
MASSA TIMOTHY A
Officer
$1.71M
@ $57.18 · 2024-04-23
ADCOCK MARY ELLEN
Officer
$4.61M
@ $55.61 · 2024-04-23
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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AXP
FearGreed
😐Neutral(42/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
KR
FearGreed
😏Greed(64/100)

"Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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AXP
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (42)
KR
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Greed (64)
View AXP Full AnalysisView KR Full Analysis